Combined fire-shovel and ash-sifter.



I. PORTNOY. COMBINED FIRE'SHOVEL AND ASH SIFTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 10, 1909'. 944,501

Patented Dec. 28, 1909. Y

OFFICE.

I ran answer, or cinema IflfiNUIs'. 'comsrnnn FIRE sE-TOVELANFASI LSTETEE.

Specification of- Iletters i atent. fat'nted Dec. 28, 1909.

- Application filed May 16',- 1909. Serial No. 494,998.

domestic use and consists in a combined fire shovel and ash sifter and receptacle for temporarily containing coal or ashes. My shovel is intended primarily for domestic use especially in connection with heating or cooking ranges and stoves burning comparatively small sizes of coal such as range and chestnut; and the object of the invention is to provide a utensil convenient and readily adapted for such use.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, I have selected a form shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of the complete device. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section. Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 33 Fig. 2 and Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail showing the preferred manner of mounting the front door and the lid.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The main body of the receptacle has a bottom a, two sides 6 and c and a back d of suitable form, the bottom preferably projecting at the front and being provided with flanges Z2 and 0' at the sides to facilitate the scooping up of coal or ashes. By pref erence the sides, bottom and back are con structed of a single piece of sheet metal such as galvanized iron, but this is not an es-' sential characteristic of the device. A handle e of suitable form is provided and is secured preferably to the back (1 as shown. On top is a lid or cover 7' which forms a sieve or screen and is constructed preferably of foraminated sheet metal, the apertures whereof are numerous and arranged close together to afford efficient sifting action. In the preferred construction this cover is provided with lugs f at the sides of the front portion, which are riveted or otherwise pivoted to the sides 6 and c and thereby hinge the cover to the main body of the receptacle. Said cover is normally held shut by means of a spring catch 9 secured to the back of the shovel.

A door it is located at the front and in the preferred construction is hinged to the cover f by means of a pin 71 which is fastened to the door it and projects laterally into the grooves f formed at the lateral edges of the cover f. .T his preferred construction is illustrated in detail in Fig. at. The grooves f extend preferably the entire length of the cover, which not only serves to stiffen the latter but affords a connection with the front door such that said door is not only pivoted so as to swing about the pin a but is also s'lidably connected with the cover so that the lid may be slid back parallel and adjacent to the cover when not in use.

Means are provided for retaining the front door in closed. position. and in open position. Said means consist preferably of a tongue 7' rigidly secured to a head is pivoted in the door, the parts being so arranged that when said door is swung to vertical position as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the lower end will enter a slot a formed in the bottom a near the front end thereof. A slot 7' is formed in the cover 7 at the front edge thereof and is of a width just sufficient to receive the neck of the turn-head k. The result is that when the cover It is swung up and back it may be retained in contact with the cover by slipping the neck into said slot f An aperture 6 may be formed in the handle e to permit the device to be hung up when not in use.

When the utensil is to be used as a shovel, i

the cover will remain in closed position locked by the catch 9 and the door is will lie in retracted position adjacent to the cover. As a result of the presence of the side, back and cover, a considerable quantity of coal i may be carried and stored especially if the door it be closed. hen free from coal the utensil may be used to remove the ashes and partially burned coal from the stove or range and these ashes may be without rehandling them or putting them into some oiher sifting apparatus. All that is required is to close the door It and turn the utensil upside down whereupon the ashes may be sifted through the cover 7. The

clinkers or other pieces of ash too large to pass the screen, but useless for fuel, may be removed by swinging the cover f to raised position, this method being more convenient than to reach in from the end through the door h. It will also be noticed that when the article is being used as a sifter no dust or subsequently sifted ashes can escape upward or from the sides,m

as the closure is complete. vThe utensil thus constitutes not only an unusually convenient fire shovel for domestic use butafl'ords all the advantages of a good ash sifter and also". eliminates the necessity of having to handle the ashes twice, as is commonly the case.

It will be understood that the details of design and shape may be varied to a consid erable extent without exceeding the scope of the invention considered in its broadest asect.

p Vhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A shovel open at the front and having sides, a back, a sieve-like cover hinged to the sides near the top front edge thereof to per- 7 mit the rear end of said cover to be raised,

and a front door hinged at the top and adapted to form a closure for the front of the shovel.

2. A shovel open at the front and having sides, a back, a sieve-like cover hinged to the sides near the top front edge thereof to permit the rear end of said cover to be raised, and a front door adapted to form a closure for the front of the shovel and adapted to be slid back parallel to said cover.

A utensil of the class described, having a bQt-tom, sides and back, rigidly fastened together, a front door and a top cover, said door and cover being pivotally connected together and adapted to slide one relative to the other and said cover being hinged to the sides of the utensil.

4. A utensil of the class described, having a bottom, sides and back, rigidly fastened together, afront door and a top cover, said door and cover being pivotally and slidingly connected together and said cover being hinged to the sides of the utensil, said cover being sieve-like, and fastening means for securing the door in (closed position to the front of the utensil, and in open position adjacent to said cover.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

IKE PORTNOY. lVitnesses HOWARD M. Cox, C. J CHRISTOFFEL. 

